A CAFE owner has stepped back into the kitchen opposite his old Oxford premises after becoming bored in retirement.

Mick Harris closed the iconic Mick’s Cafe, at the junction of Botley Road and Cripley Road, near the railway station, in February, after deciding it was no longer viable for his family to continue.

But after retiring, the 72-year-old decided a life of leisure did not suit him.

So he approached Anne Devlin, manager of the Westgate Hotel across the road from his old cafe, and the pair agreed to start a new venture together.

Now Mr Harris is back cooking his legendary breakfasts four days a week with a new cafe set up in the conservatory at the back of the hotel.

He said: “I was out of a job and not used to not doing anything. Anne was looking for someone to do breakfasts and I thought this was just the job for me as I was really missing it.”

Mr Harris is hoping to attract all his loyal customers who visited the old Mick’s Cafe over the 27 years it traded successfully.

He added: “We have just opened and it will take a little bit of time to get going but I am enjoying it. I was becoming more bored every day.”

Ms Devlin said: “Mick came to see me saying he was bored and asked if I could do anything for him.

“I have always wanted to run a cafe at the hotel but didn’t because I would have been taking business from Mick.

“He is an institution and he will be doing the same here as he was across the road.”

Meanwhile, the old Mick’s Cafe building has gone up for sale for £100,000.

The quirky premises near Oxford’s railway station have been put on the market by the Reading-based charity Parents and Children together (PACT).

Richard Venables, partner at commercial property agents VSL & Partners, said: “We are seeking offers in excess of £100,000 for the premises.

“Although the marketing has only recently commenced, we have already received numerous enquiries and carried out viewings.

“Properties of this nature rarely become available in Oxford city centre, particularly on a freehold basis, which is shown in the level of interest.”

Mr Venables added that the majority of those interested were local people looking to continue it as some kind of catering business.